Detector.



A. K. SLOAN, JR.

DETECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED oEc.11, 1910.

Patented Sept. 7, 1915.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

WIT/458858: 2

J- mung/2 1 all a] J; 7 K '1 Afro/ms??? A. K. SLOAN, JR.

DETEC-TOR.

APPLICATION FlL ED DEC.17. 1910.

v l/WEIVTUR fluyustus Kellogg 510601;?!

Z2 E i: ATTORNEY.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PatentedSept. 7, 1915.

'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUSTUS K. SLOAN. JR.. 0 BROtJKLYN. NEW YORK.

DETECTOR.

Application filed December 17-. 1910. Serial No. 587.808.

lie it; known that l. AYGtH'llS l\'i-:i.i.ooo Slow. J12. :1 citizen of the i nited States. and :1 resident of Brooklyn. in the county of hings and State of New York. have invented a eertain new and useful Detector. of which the following is :1 full. elear. and exaet description. whereby anyone slv'illedin the artniav make and use the same.

The invention relates to devices for detecting signals transmitted from wireless telegraph and wireless telephone stations.

It relates more particularly to what might well he called a mieroiueter detector, in whieh the tinest and most positive forms of adjustment are made possible.

The objects of'the invention are to proviilea deteetor.extremely sensitive as to its adjustment and one which will not be tlthHYllflHlt of adjustment by atmospheric disiharges or when charged to high potential It is :1 further object. to provide :1 deviee oi". the el araeter described. whieh will perform the duty of reetit'ying eleetrieal eiierg v reeeived from distant stations. in the form of intelligible signals. so that sensitive telephone reeeivers will transform the eleetrieal impulses to sounds.

A still further objeet is to provide for a positive position of the adjustable parts, through an almost ineredi le movement. which will give a most sensitive and desirable eontaet between the members of the deteetor. without liability of uneertain adjust;

ment by the. operator: and a further objeet is to provide. adjusting means whereby the eontaets may he definitely adjustable. within the slightest ranges of movement. for instance, iuie-hundred-thoiisaii1lth of an ineh or less.

.\ further objeet is to provide a deteetor using materials. in eonjunetionwith meehanieal eontrolling means. whieh are e.\'- treineiv sensitive. thus inereasing the range of distanee for the possible exehange ot' signals. requiring the iun-u'ession o't' no auxiliarvpotential upon the eontaets. sueh as :1 hatterv or (dlNF'deYiH and thus seeurmg :1 deteetor. whieh will notblow-out ot adiustiiient'. when eharged to high potentials. but one whieh is aetuallv put or held sitiv'e. adjustment by atniospherie diseharges. I

ltje" rri.iig to the drawings:--ligure l is a view" in' side elevation of the deteetor with Specification of Letters Patent.

a supporting base eut in section. Fig. 2 1S :1 ilan view of the parts illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 25 is a perspeetive view of the column and supported parts. .Fig. 4 is a side, View of the eohnnn and supported parts. illustrating the contact as depressed. (in eXaggeratioii) by the aetion ot' the vernier adusting screw. Fig. is a similar view illustrating the contaet pointraised. (in exag-' forwireless purposes. to use various sub-' stain-es. whieh have the neeessary and dceial whieh'itt used. ete.

siled qualities as to i'eetif ving eleetrieal energ v reeeived from distantpoints. in the form of intelligibleimpulses or signals, so that sensitive telephone receivers will transform the (ltttl'lt'tll impulses to son ls. l'hese results have been aeeomplished lby passing eleetrieal energy through iinpeiifect eont'aets et-ween one or more minerals; ineluding ehaleopvrite. and the niineraliitied oxid of zine. ()ther eombinations are liornite and zinkite. possibly more sensitive for inereasing the range of distance between given stations. The possible range. eourse. is dependent upon the adjustment of the deteetor. the pressure upon the (.Olltti(li$. and the eonditiori of the surface of the mm- It is :1 t'aet that tllfifilllitlfl. ota pi zinkite. sueh as used in deteetors, M a short time. beeomes inellieient t'o piu i taining proper eonditions and where Min ite. ehaleopv ite. or hornite are used. ii. titeharge of osi-illatorv nature taking pla'ce i the vieinitv requires a new adjnst nent. 'lherelore. the operator must secure at new adjnstnient ta l'ter transmitting. (using an eillatorv di eharge) and at the same t nie missing thlpreturn signals.

.\s hereii'ia t'ter defined. a mineral has beltn t'ound wltieh provides a wonderfully sensitive deter fl'il from the alioveaiientioited t'aults an l while it has been heretofore used .in some [flu-ms. it has notbeeii sueeessl ully trical adjustment, or mitoinaticzilly through mechanical. means, maintaining a proper adj lli-J tincnt.

The rain referred to isn combination iron and sulfur and is used as one of the point suitably controlled and; forming the clcctrodcs. The etiiciency of the detector dcpcndc'nt upon the point of contact, which must be under light pressure,

nearly mechan cally rigid as possible, and

at the-same tin; free from variations and. changes due tovibration.

The best results, with the mechanism hereinafter described, are secured with a min eral having, in combination, iron and sulfur and known in general terms as'iron pyritcs. Various -forms of this mineral have been utilized including common pyritcs having thoproportions of sulfur 53. 1- and iron M15, pyrrhotito, showing iron as high as (30%, troilitc, showing iron as high as (33.82

and intermediate forms showing variousproportions of sulfur and iron.

lt appears that the forms of mineral of the general class above defined, containing the highest percentage of iron, give better results than the ordinary pyrites and very much. hotter results than other materials, above referred to. As is hereinafter defined, the grcatcst' benefits secured in the use of these matcriais due to thcir use, in conjunction with adjustments which may be mad/51in subistantially positive form and w u within very slight ranges. These benefits are undoubtedly due to having the contact adgustabie both to position and pressure. In. the present forms oft devices, so far as known, therc are features of adjustmcnt,

but tho adjustaoility is accomplished through spring deviccs and adjusting means of such a nou-positivc nature that even the influence of the operator's hand in securing a finc adjustment makes the device adjustable almost in a haphazard sense, inasmuch as, when the hand is removed, the adjustment is materially varicdrand the dcviccs are of such form that the slightest lost motion in the parts destroys thc litre adjust ment, which. is rcquisitc to secure the best and most accurate results.

1t is onc of the principal objects of the present invention to obviate these diiliculties and providc a device in which the contact pointmayloe moved toward and away from the crystal of mineral. to a minute ex-' in conjunction with a metallic.

vicinity of an oscillatory discharge or when the high potential of heavy atmospheric discharge is nupresscd upon it. In fact, such discharges will maintain the detector in good adjustment, and obviously, this is the exact oppositcof the action of the ordinary zinkitc dctcctors.

'ith the dcvicc licrciuaftcr dcscribcd, th movemcnt of tlic coutactis so delicately controlled that it may be adjusted through its entire raugc, that is, from no siguals'to the finest adjustlllcnt, within a distance of approximately onc-ton-thousandth -of an inch. ()f cours'c. all minute movcmcnts. within this raugc of ()!lL-ttntll()ll's:llltltll of an inch. may bcobtained. lfiurtbcrmoro, the mechanism is so ai'raugcd'tlmt variations in its plauc ot' adjustmcut do not change it clcctrically.

llclcrriug first to the diagrammatic view, Fig; 7. r1 indicatcs the load to thc fllltlllllil; I), the indlu'tzlucc coil having a load w conncctcd to ground as at (l and comicctcd to the variablc coudcuscr (I, one side of which is conucctcd to tho binding post rzrouucctcd with the 'cccptaclc w, and binding post The lattcr is in turn connected witlrtbc tclcpliouc rcrcivcrs oi high resistance. 1/. A lead l1v from the inductance coil 1 is com ncctcd with um binding post i. tbcucc to the standard 1) of the dctcctor and to (bc adjustable cout:\ctmii1t. through said standard. 'llubinding post i is also runncctcd through a load-wire j with a binding post A', which in turn is couucctcd to the telephone instrument Avariablccoudcnscr 1', is conncctcd across the liucs loading from the binding posts f, and k. to the telephone.

Referring to tho rcmuiuing ligurcs. thc Immoral l dcuotcs a base prcfcrably oi" polishcd bard rubber or utbcl' suitable insulating matcrial, which supports the basc 2 of the column 1. The base? 2 is preferably of triangular form giving tbrcc dotinitc points of support for tho column 0. which. as shown in Fig. (i, is of scction form, the 'scvcl'al sections being clamped togctbcr by a spindle 3, which sccurcly holds the scctim s iu'place and at the same timc, through binding nuts 4, if), affords a couvcmcnt \virc councctiug means. Obviously, the column may be made in solid form, if (lcsircd, although, as herein illustrated, it compriscs scvcral'scctious bctween which are scoured the supports 6,7 for the micrometer adjusting screw 8, and its appurtcnant parts and provides a proper support for the parallelly arranged springs 9 and 10. ,Tbese springs S) and 10 are comparativcly'. heavy and give a substantially iflii'd "l'UI. and borne ii ion the s )indle H l l l 1 I firm support to a block 11, which, as shown, is secured to the springs at their outer ends by a screw 1:2 and nut 13. The screw and nut might, of course, be dispensed with and the spring-metabers 9 and 10 might be secured in any desired manner to the block 11. As illustrated, the block 11 is scimV-threzuh ed to receive an adjustable spindle 13. and is provided with a split clamp ll. having a screw 15, by which the spindle 13 may be held in more or less iii-in adjustment.

The spindle 13 is surmounted by an iiisulating handle 16, and at its lower end, is recessed and is provided with a clamping collar 17, and binding screw 18. through which a contact point 1 may be securely .held within the end of the spindle l3. 'ith this arrangement, the contact point 19 maybe renewed at will and may be adjusted in tht end of the spindle lil.

l'ndt rlying the ('(iiitatTit-point 15) is a cup e (Fii. 1), having a set w-threaded shank 20, wh'l-h passes throng-ll an enlarged opening :Zjl iii the base 1., and is resiliently held in place; a spring 22- interposed between s 23 2+ upon'a screw 5. Thus, it is pos. i;l)le to adjust the cup 0' either laterally oi, 'rotarily with reference to the base 1 and cbntact-point 1!), and owing to the sprii ig tension thereoin vill remain in any adjust d position. "llie c,ii c is electrically conije -ted, as indicated in'qliagram in Fig. 7, and is, preferably providl d with a number ot' iniileral crystals of py l'ites form. preterably pyrrhotite, troilite pr llht substances. 'ilhelbest results are obtained with the forms ot' p \'rites, which are high in iron-as compared with s'i'ilt'ur, such troilite.

\ l ho base 1, is for convenience supported hiiptii ran insulating base suitably recessed to re'deivge the parts projecting below the bas l l lt has suitable incans for holding theltlvoib: si togethei' j'such as 'hinding scre', l The tlireaitled spindle, 13 has a coiiiparapitch screw-tlirezul, so that a nentol' siiid spindle may be nterinediati the spring members w l ich spintlile has a line';sci'e\vtliread. is lt ively long nut :Zli having a central- "T providing seat fo' a spring 2h, 'iug an extended portion il whi h s s against the column and insures'sta- .ilityjiil' the parts. The spring 28 is also tal",'v connected with the central portion bloclt ll.

"lhi spindle S has hearings in the supportiiigs hip! in the respective springinenihcrs l l hx'ese openings being sulliciently.large through openmicrometer spindle H in proper position with reference to the support. With this arrangement. it is apparent that a rotation of the spindle 5 will move the nut 26 between the supporting spring-meinhers J and l0, and thereby the influence of the spring 28 will become effective with reference to the block 11 and the contact-point Hi.

The adjustment is illustrated in exaggerated form in Figs. 4 aiul 5. In Fig. l. the nut 2h is shown as depressed throwing the vintluenee of the spring in upon, the block ii, and supported contact-point 19, tending to press said point downward. in Fig. Ti. the opposite condition is illustrated. wherein the nut .26 is shown as raised and the spring 2b is exerting its inlluence to raise the block 11 and contact-point 19.

It is. of course. understood that the inicrometeiscrew 8. with its nut :36 and spring 28, when adjusted to various positions. inllueiices the position oi the spi'iiig-inembers ti, 11h. These springniemhers. while pi'el'erably made of llat. hard spriqi bi'ass; are sullicieutly still to support "ie; contact-point and appurtenant parts. 'l";'ht coarse sc rl w ot' the spindle 13", may. tlIOI'tl (H'tKlN' adjusted until signals are heard. 'lhereupon. the micrometer screw 8 may be very slightly turned and it is thereby possible to move the contact-point I!) to the 'veFy slightest degree. In fact. it may be moved oiie-teu-thousandth of an inch or less.

it will he observed that the micrometer screw is located closely adjacent to the suppoilting column 0, and, therefore, the weight of be hand of the operator will not in any way interfere with the adjustni'iint ol' the contact-point l9. j

in Fig. 8. there is shown a slightly modi-- lied t'orin, in which the column 50 is-showu as having the micrometer screw 51 passing directly through it. with a spring 5; and nut 53 for holding the microiiietei' screw in place. The traveling nut 5i extends within the column and, of course, is connected with the controlling spring 55 which is positioned interinmliate the spring-snpporting means 56, .37. These spring-nienihers in turn support the block 5H which acts as a support and provides an adjustn'ient tor the spindle.

The main supporting springs 9, 10 are stable enough to maintain the spindle 13 and its contact-point in delinite position, even against SllOClitliHl point upon the crystal ol the cup might cause deflection ot' the spring-supporting members. llowever, such a pressure would llt ttltf fll'tilt tnset'liie proper operation of.

the device. The spindle- 13" may, however,

be adjusted with 'relerenceto its support,

owing "to the coarse-pitch of its screw and in connection with' such'an instrument as defined. There is a main bindin nut 35 which may be used as 'one termina connection, which clamps the wire to the main portion of the binding post 36. There is also a transverse opening 37 which forms a second connection and within which the wire may be bound by the nut 38.

()bviously, various changes as to details might be made without departing from the spirit or intent of the invention, which contemplates a means -for effectively holding the movable contact-point and adjusting said point to the slightest degree with reference to the cooperating contact member.

What I claim as mv invention and desire to secure by Letters atent is: 1. A detector having a standard or support. a flexible arm extending therefrom, a contact point adjustably supported at the outer end thereof and means including an adjusting screw borne upon the standard for positively varying to minute degreesin both directions of movement the tensioned position of the outer end of said flexible arm and its adjustable contact point.

2; A detector having a standard or support, a plurality of flexible members" comprising a resilient supporting arm for the contact member, a contact member adjustable with rcference to said arm, an adjustiiigscrew out of engagement with the resilient supporting arm. said screw mounted upon the standard, a flexible member intermediate said adjusting screw and the outer end of the flexible arm positively moved in both directions along said screw for varying. to minute degrees the tensioncd position of the outer end of the supporting arm and its adjustable contact member.

3. A detector having a standard or support, a flexible arm extending therefr m an adjustable contact member mounted vat-one end of said arm, an adjusting device for said arm comprising an adjusting screw mountcd'upon the standard and a flexible member intermediate said screw aml the outer end of the flexible arm. said flexible member being positively adjustable in both directions along said screw whereby a fixed tension is exerted upon the outer eml of the flexible arm when positioned in either direction.

v4. A detector having a standard or sup- 'port, a pair of substantially parallel flexible.

members extending therefrom and forming a supportmg arm, a screw-illreaded spindle,

operatively mounted at the ou'teiiend of said arm and bearing a contact-pointpa'n adjustv able spring member interen aging said supporting arm at its outer en and'an adjustmg device having a bearing entirely upon the support and adapted to positively influence t 'e position. of the springmember to exert a positive adjusting influence upon the supporting arm in both directions of adjustcontact adjustably mounted at the outer end of said arm, means for raising and: lowering the outer end of said arm to minute degrees;

said means com rising a spring member in engagement wit the outer e'nd of the spring arm and having its opposite end positively adjustable in an axial direction" along an adjusting screw borne upon the standard whereby the tension of said spri'n nembcr is increased or decreased vwitheregarenee to the outer end of the s )ring arm atiany adjusted position tliereo and a contact meiii ber cooperating" with the adjustablecontact 6. A detector having a standard or support, a flexible arm consistin of" parallel spring members secured to sai support and bearing at their outer ends a screwdihreaded spindle, a contact point secured in said spindle, an adjusting screw woperatively mounted upon the standard andfout'of-contact with the spring ar'm, anut traversing said adjustin screw and a spring memb'eli secured to said nut and connected with the outer end of the flexible arm for exerting a tension for flexing and positioning under tension the spring arm to minute degrees in either direction to vary the sition of adjustmcnt of the spindle and its resilient re-'- action upon the contact point."

'7. A detector having a standard ori support, an adjusting screw mounted thereon;

and out of direct contact:- with the resilient arm, a nut"traversmg said screw, a resilient arm extending from the standard and a resilient member secured tothe-nut and the for-wa d end of the resilient arin for verying the tensioned position of the outer end of said spring arm to a minutefdegree in 'citiier direction as tl'; justing screw.

8. A detector having a standard or support. a resilient arm extending therefrom,

=nut traverses the adlow a contact member comprising a cup contain ing as a chemical compound crystallized iron pyrite in its highest form .of pyrrhotite and troilite.

10. In a device of the character described havin r a base or support of insulating inaterial 'aring a standard, a resilient arm extending from the standard, a screw-threaded spindle operatively mounted upon the stand ard and extending through said resilient arm though out of engagement therewith, a non-rotative nut traversing. said spindle, a resilient arm extending from and connected with said nut and connected with the outer end of the "resilient arm for raising and lowering said arm to minute degrees and a contact, point operatively arranged with ref.- erence to said resilient arni.

11. In a device of the character described, a base or support of ins zlating material bearing a standard, a spring arm projecting therefrom, bearing arms, a screw-threaded spindle mounted thereon, a nut mounted upon the screw-threaded spindle and having a projection bearing against the standard and a spring blade intermediate said nut and theouter ends of the spring arm whereby the raising and lowering of the nut will influence the position of the spring arms to a minute degree. I

15?. In a device'ofthe character described havinga base orsupport of insulating inaterial bearing a standard, a sci-e\\"-threaded spindle operatively mounted with reference to said standard," a spring for maintaining said spin 1e" in its bearings, a nut traversing said spindle, a resilient arm extending from the standard and bearing a comparatively coarse-pitch adjusting screw, a contactpoint operatively arranged with reference to said'screw, and a connection intermediate the nut and said screw whereby minute degrees of adjustment may be given to the contact-point.

13. In a device of the character described having 5 base or support of insulating material bearing a standard, a screw-threaded spindle operatively mounted with reference' to said standard, a spring for maintaining said spindle in its bearings, a nut traversing said spindle, a resilient arm extending from the standard and bearing a comparatively coarse-pitch adjusting screw, :1 contact-point operatively arranged with reference to said screw, a connection intermediate. the nut and said screw,whereby minute degrees of adjustment may be given to the contactpoint, and a contact iiieinber resiliently held tov the insulating base and adjustable with reference to the cotipcrating contact-point.

14. In a device of the characterdescribed having a standard or support, a tlcxiblc arin extending therefrom, a conta'ct-nieinlier adjustably mounted at the outer end of said arm, an adjusting spindle concentricall v arranged with reiercnce to the support, a inov-' able adjusting device operatively arranged on said spindle, and connected with the contact member.

15. In a device of the character described,

a cup contact having a shank extending into -a base piece, and resilientineans interposed between the shank and base for holding said cup firmly against the base whereby it may be laterally and rotarily adjusted.

16. In a device of the character described,

a "ontact cup overlying an opening of the base, and resilient incans ol'icratively arranged between the contact cup and base for holding said contact cup firmly against the base whereby the cup may be moved later-' ally and rotarily" with reference thereto.

17. In a device of the character described,

a base, a supporting standard opci'atively' mounted thereon and bearing an adjustable contact member, an opening through said base underlying said'contactmember, a cup contact adapted for lateral and rotary adjustment with reference to the contact memher and base opening and resilient means operatively arranged between the cup and base for holding said cup contact in any position of ad ustment. 7

A. K. SLOAN, Jii.

Witnesses MAX Brine, Ka'rn BRENNER. 

